Assist mechanism for recliner closing

ABSTRACT

An assistive device for closing an extended recliner having an assistive mechanism operatively associated with the extension and retraction mechanism of a recliner footrest wherein said mechanism is constructed and arranged for a user to actuate said mechanism in order to assist in closing the extended footrest of a recliner.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of, and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/758,239 filed Jan. 29, 2013 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

When dealing with a reclining chair in the reclined position, many people have difficulty closing the footrest. The footrest mechanism is often held up by a spring loaded device that must be overcome with muscular force. Some recliners have a handle on the side where arm force can assist in opening or closing.

The hardest point of closure for a footrest is often in the last half of the footrest's closure when a user's leg bend approaches 90 degrees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has solved this problem with an assisted closure mechanism that will pull the footrest closed for the user when the footrest gets past the first half of the closure range. The force that is developed for the assisted close comes from a hand lever that loads assistance spring as the footrest is moving from the closed to the open position.

The assistance spring is connected to a first sliding member. There is a second sliding member that is attached to the main drive bar in the recliner through a rotating linkage. The main drive bar connects both scissor mechanisms on either side of the recliner and the side handle. As the recliner's footrest is extended out from the closed position the main drive bar rotates and pushes the second sliding member along a slot. The second sliding member is interlocked with the first sliding member which is also moving along a parallel slot. As the second sliding member moves along with the first sliding mechanism the assistance spring is stretched out. When the footrest gets to a point before the halfway point the first sliding member is pulled by the assistance spring into a locked position where the first sliding member is rotated up. As the first sliding member rotates up the second sliding member is released from the interlocking feature and allowed to further slide along in the slot independently. The spring force from the scissor assembly will then pull the footrest into the open position without user force.

On the closing motion the user will use muscular force to pull the footrest down to a point below the halfway point against the scissor assembly spring. This motion rotates the main drive bar and pulls the second sliding member back towards the first sliding member that is in a locked position. When the footrest reached a point past the halfway point the second traveler will contact the lower portion of the first sliding member which will generate a force that rotates the first sliding member out of the locking position. Once that occurs the first and second sliding members are once again interlocked and the assistance spring will pull both sliding members and rotate the main drive bar so that the footrest reaches the closed position. The user does not need to provide any muscular input in the footrest or the handle at this point to assist in the closing action. To make sure that the final assisted closing action does not happen too fast and slam the footrest closed we have added a motion dampening mechanism that is attached to the first sliding member. The dampener is a piston in a sleeve that allows a precise amount of air to escape. The air can escape from an area around the piston itself or from an orifice inside the bottom of the sleeve. There could even be multiple orifices placed in the sleeve to progressively change the amount of air being released. At the bottom of the sleeve is a cap that contains a one-way valve. The one-way valve allows air to enter the sleeve when the piston is moving out of the sleeve. This allows much more air to enter the sleeve when the piston is moving out which in turn develops much less dampening to the motion as the footrest is being extended. Mechanism is supported between two plates that have the slots and pivot points for the spring and dampener.

The best way to implement this invention will be to make the assembly with manufacturing methods similar to that of common recliner manufacturers. Stamped metal plates and injection molded components connected with riveted joints. Initial design has machined components that are connected with screws.

The construction of the device could be made with a variety of materials and processes. We have initially made the assembly with sheet metal and machined parts, but extruded, stamped or cast metals and injection-molded plastics could be used. Travelers could be guided by geometry other than slots. Springs could have a variety of forms. Dampening of the closing force could be accomplished by a variety of other means such as with frictional force, gear reductions, or inertia. In a more dramatic change the force that is generated in the assistance spring for pre-load could be accomplished with electromechanical or pneumatic means as opposed to handle input. High gear reduction motor, linear drives or pneumatic pump could load the assistance spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of the components of the locking mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of components whereby a footrest is extended.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the extension of the footrest.

FIG. 4 is a side prospective showing two plates and a movement mechanism therebetween.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the internal closing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the internal closing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the internal closing mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the internal closing mechanism configured with an electrical motor to assist opening and closing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a mechanical assist for the opening and/or closing of a recliner. As generally understood, a recliner has a footrest that extends and retracts based on a mechanism as known in the art.

However, also as known, the action of retracting the recliner footrest to a closed position often involves exertion of a significant amount of force. Some attempts to overcome this force have been made by providing a handle on the side of recliners whereby a person can exert force using their hand.

However, still this handle is still a problem in that persons sometimes do not have sufficient arm strength.

In one embodiment, there are provided a first plate 20 and a second plate 30 that form the general mechanism 10 of the present invention. There between first plate 20 and second-place 30 is a recliner retraction assist mechanism 40. Mechanism 40 is any mechanism known in the art. As discussed herein, mechanism 40 is a mechanical mechanism such as a spring 50 with retraction track 60. Alternatively, mechanism 40 can be a pneumatic cylinder use for retraction. In another embodiment, mechanism 40 can be an electrical or a electromechanical device constructed and arranged to retract a recliner footrest from its extended position into a close position

Although the figures and photographs accompanying this application demonstrate a particular embodiment, the present invention is not intended to believe limited to any particular embodiment. The figures and photographs are intended to provide an assistive and mechanical device whereby an extended recliner footrest is be retracted with mechanical assistance. As shown herein, assembly 10 has component parts whereby mechanism 40 can effectuate closing.

In one embodiment, plate 20 has formed there in a first channel 22 and a second channel 24 by which mechanism 40 interaction with plate 20 to perform the retraction motion.

As generally understood, a spring 50 is operatively associated with a closing mechanism 60 whereby closing mechanism acts on the re-extended recliner in order to assist with the retraction at subsequent closing.

In one embodiment an electrical motor 80 has at least one arm 82 associated therewith whereby arm 82 is configured and secured to the opening/closing mechanism to provide motorized opening and closing of the recliner.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An assistive device for closing an extended recliner footrest said assembly comprising: an assistive mechanism, said assistance mechanism operatively associated with the extension and retraction mechanism of a recliner, said mechanism constructed and arranged for a user to actuate said mechanism in order to assist in closing the extended footrest of a recliner.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said assistive mecahism is a pneumatic device.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said assistive mecahism is mechaical.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said assistive mecahism is electrical.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said assistive mecahism is actuated by a person sitting in said recliner. 